During the continuation phase, which drugs are administered?

During the continuation phase, which drugs are administered?

• A. INH and rifampin
• B. INH alone
• C. Rifampin alone
• D. Pyrazinamide

Answer: (A)

The continuation phase is the final leg of TB treatment where the goal is to finish off any remaining bacilli after the initial intensive phase. In this phase, the standard approach is to continue two drugs: isoniazid and rifampin. After the initial two months of a four-drug regimen (isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol), pyrazinamide is stopped and ethambutol is typically discontinued once drug susceptibility has been confirmed, leaving isoniazid and rifampin to be given for the remaining months. Isoniazid attacks actively growing bacteria, while rifampin has strong sterilizing activity and helps prevent relapse; together they provide effective clearance with a lower risk of resistance than using a single drug. Other drugs used in the initial phase, like pyrazinamide, are not continued in the long-term continuation phase, and using only one drug would increase the chance of resistance, which is why the two-drug combination of isoniazid and rifampin is the preferred continuation regimen.

The continuation phase is the final leg of TB treatment where the goal is to finish off any remaining bacilli after the initial intensive phase. In this phase, the standard approach is to continue two drugs: isoniazid and rifampin. After the initial two months of a four-drug regimen (isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol), pyrazinamide is stopped and ethambutol is typically discontinued once drug susceptibility has been confirmed, leaving isoniazid and rifampin to be given for the remaining months. Isoniazid attacks actively growing bacteria, while rifampin has strong sterilizing activity and helps prevent relapse; together they provide effective clearance with a lower risk of resistance than using a single drug. Other drugs used in the initial phase, like pyrazinamide, are not continued in the long-term continuation phase, and using only one drug would increase the chance of resistance, which is why the two-drug combination of isoniazid and rifampin is the preferred continuation regimen.